On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, UNESCO will open its doors to the public from Saturday 16th to Sunday 17th September 2023, from 10am to 6pm. This year’s event will focus on the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

As well as visiting UNESCO’s emblematic Headquarters, Isamu Noguchi’s Japanese garden and its collection of works of art by the greatest masters of the 20th century (Picasso, Giacometti, Calder, Moore, Tadao Ando, Tapies, Miro…), visitors will be able to discover cultural expressions from different regions of the world, safeguarded thanks to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In its two decades of existence, this UNESCO Convention has considerably advanced the protection of cultural heritage, by extending its definition to ancestral practices and knowledge that play a major role in the history and identity of peoples.

The program for this 2023 edition includes

Discoveries of UNESCO’s living heritage: visitors can try their hand at Arabic calligraphy, alongside street-artist RamZ, and watch demonstrations of traditional practices such as the Bear Festival (Andorra, France), Kochari (Armenia), Capoeira (Brazil), Congolese Rumba (Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo), Flamenco (Spain) and Cremonese Lutherie (Italy).

Screenings in the cinema: two documentaries will be shown over the two days. “Motu Haka, le combat des îles Marquises”, produced in collaboration with UNESCO, focuses on the struggle of the Marquesan people to safeguard and honor their culture. “Rwanda, l’appel de l’Inanga” follows a survivor on a musical initiatory journey around the Inanga string instrument, from its making to its playing.

Encounters with living heritage actors: visitors will have the opportunity to talk to UNESCO experts about the major challenges facing intangible cultural heritage. They’ll also be able to talk to female divers from Jeju Island (Republic of Korea), including the doyenne, who will be coming specially from the Republic of Korea, as part of an exhibition dedicated to Haenyeo culture. Haenyeo is a culture that contributes to environmental protection, notably by promoting ancestral fishing practices.

Saturday at 11:30: Tim Curtis, Head of the Living Heritage Entity and Secretary of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;
Saturday at 15:30: Véronique Van de Voorde, Expert in Intangible Cultural Heritage, Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Belgium;
Sunday at 15:30: Haenyeo women divers from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. This exchange will be followed by a traditional Haenyeo shamanic ritual.

Catering: Visitors will be able to sample dishes from Tunisian culture and Afro street-food.

Practical information

• Free admission, no reservation required
• Entrance : 125 avenue de Suffren, 75007 Paris (Metro Ségur, Cambronne and École Militaire)
• Times: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (on-site catering available)

1. LivingHeritage